Acupressure to Ease Pain During ESWL for Kidney Stones
Official title: The Effect of Acupressure Application on Pain Scores and Procedure Tolerance in Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy Treatment
Run by Medipol University · NCT07885696 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether applying acupressure to specific points before ESWL can reduce pain and improve comfort for adults with kidney or proximal ureteral stones.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 105 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Medipol University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Istanbul) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 10, 2026 |
| Main results expected | November 30, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 1, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | October 21, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07885696 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (18+) scheduled for their first ESWL session due to kidney or proximal ureteral stones, without exclusions that would affect acupressure response or safety.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with certain medical conditions or skin issues at acupressure sites, or those using analgesics shortly before the procedure, may not experience benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This randomized, three-arm trial compares acupressure, sham acupressure, and standard care in adults undergoing their first ESWL session for kidney or proximal ureteral stones. Acupressure is applied to LI4 and Qiu points for 9 minutes before the procedure, with a sham group receiving light touch to blind participants. Pain will be measured with a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale at multiple time points during the procedure, along with secondary outcomes such as procedural tolerance and need for rescue analgesia. The study aims to determine if acupressure can provide analgesia and improve procedural tolerance without pharmacological agents. Enrollment targets 105 participants across a single center in Istanbul, led by Medipol University.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, acupressure could offer a non-drug option to reduce pain and improve tolerance during ESWL.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research on acupressure for procedure-related pain has shown mixed but promising results in similar settings, making this trial noteworthy but not entirely novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients scheduled for ESWL due to kidney or proximal ureteral stones. * First-time ESWL patients. * Age ≥ 18 years. Exclusion Criteria: * Kidney anomaly (e.g., horseshoe kidney) or severe hydronephrosis. * Morbid obesity. * Chronic neuropathic disease that may affect pain perception or neural response to acupressure. * Use of any analgesics within \[12/24\] hours prior to the procedure. * Use of anticoagulants. * Impaired skin integrity (wound, infection, tenderness) at the acupressure application sites (LI4 or Qiu). * Amputation of the relevant extremity.
Where it's running
-
istanbul başakşehir Çam Sakura city hospital
Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye) Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: ALi İhsan memmi, medical doctor
- Email: alimemmi@gmail.com
- Phone: +90 5379220977
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Audio consent with human voice or AI-voice added to written consent for ureteroscopy
This study tests if listening to an audio version of the consent form, read by a real urologist or by an AI-cloned voice, helps adults in Turkey understand their ureteroscopy or RIRS consent better than the written form alone.
-
Norepinephrine irrigation to help stop bleeding during flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy
This study tests whether a norepinephrine-powered irrigation solution can help control bleeding during flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy for upper urinary tract stones in adults.
-
Long-term safety of UAS-assisted vs sheathless RIRS in adults with kidney stones
This study tests whether using a ureteral access sheath during the initial RIRS affects long-term safety and outcomes in adults with kidney stones ≤20 mm.
-
See if pelvic floor endurance relates to stent symptoms after ureteroscopy
This study tests whether a ultrasound measure of pelvic floor endurance (PFFI) can predict ureteral stent-related symptoms after ureteroscopy or RIRS in adults 18–65.
-
Aspiration-enabled vs conventional ureteral access sheath for RIRS in kidney stone patients
This study tests whether using an aspiration-enabled access sheath during retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) helps prevent early kidney injury compared with conventional sheaths in adults with kidney stones.
-
Gentamicin Irrigation and Suction Ureteral Access in Kidney Stone Surgery
This trial tests whether using gentamicin-containing irrigation fluid and a suction-enabled ureteral access sheath during retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) can lower fever, SIRS, and sepsis after kidney stone treatment.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.